International Travel Adventure

Have you ever gone volcano trekking? I was fortunate (?) enough to live in Vancouver, Washington when Mt. St. Helens reawakened with “a start” in 1980. Being so close to a live volcano (40 miles “the way the crow flies”) - seeing and feeling the effects - was an interesting part of my life then, although sometimes a health hazard (falling ash) and inconvenient (again, falling ash). But flying over her was spectacular; looking into the crater, and seeing the dome being pushed up in the middle, growing with each succeeding view was amazing.

Trekking along the flanks and shoulders of Mt. St. Helens was even more adventurous. Being able to watch the recovery of plant and wildlife in the years following “the big one” was an education few get to have in a lifetime; I considered it a privilege then, as I do now. While trips to Windy Ridge (best drive-to crater viewing point on her flanks - about 4 miles from the crater) were more frequent, one of my best memories was being part of a 2-couple group (plus dogs) that hiked up a mountain stream out of the foothills south of her base to an overnight camping spot virtually unknown to most people who even live in the area. Parts of the “hike” involved swimming upstream in the coldest water I’ve ever endured (it’s what you do when there is no more riverbank to hike - on either side). The hike culminated at a beautiful waterfall and pool (the planned campsite) that made continuing further upstream impossible anyway.

Also in the south foothills, nearer the mountain, are the lava tubes, the longest of which is named Ape Cave; they are great for underground exploring fun (mega-candlepower flashlights/torches are needed, due to the immense size and lengths). Other regional activity included finding huge ash beds (while visitor center tourists paid dollars for small vials), and trekking through, while photographing, the many square miles of flattened trees from the May 18, 1980 blast. What a surreal landscape!

Mt. St. Helens is part of the Cascade mountain range in the Pacific northwest of the United States. The Cascade mountain range is, in turn, part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, a zone of frequent earthquakes and volcanoes around the rim of the Pacific Ocean, which claims more volcanoes as part of a continuous system than anywhere else on Earth. This ring contains over 50% (452 according to a Wikipedia article) of the world’s volcanoes - both active and dormant. It also generates “90% of the world’s earthquakes and 81% of the world’s largest earthquakes” (same Wikipedia article).

My other favorite volcano viewing has been on the Big Island of Hawaii. Actually seeing a different kind of devastation up close that is totally different from that of Mt. St. Helens is an experience not to be missed. Many people are affected regularly by the sometimes uncertainty of the next eruptions. Rather than the multi-megaton explosive power of a blast like Mt. St. Helens on May 18, 1980, the Big Island’s Kilauea exudes pryoclastic lava flows. These flows have even closed highways (Caution! Lava Crossing). Night views are spectacular, as are those where lava spills into the ocean, instantly turning the water into huge steam plumes.

If visiting Hawaii is out of the question, and you can arrange a trek amongst any of the world’s other volcanic regions, plan for the trip to be adventurous. If you are not familiar with where some of the best volcanic sites are located - even relatively near you - check out the free version of Google Earth “on a PC near you”. Using the ‘Layers’ options (usually located in the lower left corner, open ‘Gallery’, and put a check next to the ‘Volcanoes’ item. Then go exploring; “fly” over the earth at about 2000 miles ‘eye altitude’ (referenced in the lower right corner), and have fun planning your treks! Did you ever imagine there were so many volcanoes in the world?

Bonus: Here are a number of excellent images of Klyuchevskoy Volcano which has been erupting on the Kamchatka peninsula over the last year. The text is in Russian (and sometimes also English), but these twenty photos are worth a look even if you do not read Russian. Shown are impressive ash eruptions, lava flows, night scenes, pyroclastic flows and more. Three of the photos are sampled below - all three photos by Yu. Demyanchuk. Trek on!

Disclaimer for U.S. and other litigious societies (the things my lawyers might want me to say): Don’t try this at home! (Say what? If you live on a volcano, consider moving!) Don’t explore volcanoes during eruptions (duh!). Only trek volcanic areas not posted as “Danger, Keep Out” (need I explain?). If regional authorities are absent from a volcanic area, at least wait until the danger is over. Hikes to the peak of Mt. St. Helens, for example, didn’t resume until 1986. [Now removing tongue from cheek.]

If you’re still unsure of anything about your next international travel - and you want it to be cheaper, safer, and more adventurous, get my free “Smart Tips Handbook” available exclusively to Registered Readers! Click the link below.

International Travel Adventure

This entry was posted on Monday, March 10th, 2008 at 8:23 pm and is filed under Photos, Travel Ideas, Travel Talk. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.